Best Of :: Shopping & Services Best Place to Buy Running Shoes Some might be familiar with that euphoric rush, the runner's high. Chances are, though, you are far more aware of the crushing pain associated with ill-fitting shoes more commonly associated with greedy sales reps trying to cash in on a quick commission. See, whether you're a serious sprinter or a Sunday-morning stroller, your kicks can help reduce the risk of injury and increase your chances of success. That's where The Runner's High comes in. These guys know feet — ugly, small, sweaty, or well traveled. And the helpful staff prides itself on matching your extremities and exercise goals with your budget. Yes, they stock the latest styles and all the major brands. But they don't pressure clients into buying the most expensive pair, suggest something because of its color, or let you purchase something that doesn't fit. Not convincedç Head to the store and they will even videotape you on a treadmill to better analyze your gait — at no charge.

That process, in the industry, is known as The Runner's Why. 11209 S. Dixie Highway, Pinecrest, 33156 Salvation Army Family Store We know a seasoned vintage shopaholic who lovingly calls this place "Chez Armé." She proudly boasts about all of the amazing finds she's procured from here. It wasn't until she showed us photos of an incredible four-poster bed that seemed to be hewn from tree trunks that we began paying attention. When it comes to buying furniture, you can't do better.The store is a clean, well-lit place with the usual thrift store finds in abundance — dishes, sweaters, winter jackets, and worn children's toys. To one side you'll find dining room furniture, bedroom sets, and men's clothing. A handsome ornate chest of drawers, side tables, and an armoire are a bargain at $350. Textured wall units and a dining table come for $800. A two-piece butter-yellow leather living room set is $150. There's bland furniture and random what-were-they-thinking items, like a pair of children's loft-style beds outfitted with wooden slides for that speedy (not to mention dangerous) disembarkation.

Stop by early (it opens at 9:00 a.m.) if you want to find a specific furniture item that isn't on display: "We got a whole warehouse back there," says approachable clerk Clarence Williams. Every second Saturday of the month, the lot down the street hosts the Salvation Army auto auction. So quite literally you can walk in here with nothing and leave with a suite of furniture and a new car for less than a grand. 90 NW 23rd St., Miami, 33127 Best Way to Discard Your Junk All of us have a bunch of stuff hanging around our homes that we don't want, don't need, or don't use. Why not streamline your life by getting rid of some of that junkç Freecycle, a national online trading post with a board here in Miami, is the perfect way to turn your trash into someone else's treasure. Here's how it works: You register on the Website and then offer your stuff in a posting. If someone wants it, you arrange a (safe) meeting time and place to make the exchange. Best of all, it's free. Rag Trade Happy Clothing Co.

Don't want to spend $300 on a BCBG dressç If you're lucky, you can find one at Rag Trade for $30. You can also earn a little cash on the clothes you haven't worn for four years, the ones lying wrinkled and unused in a cobwebby corner of your closet. If you would rather barter for something in the shop, that's fine too. nike golf shoes newLike any secondhand shop, Rag Trade carries a rotating stock of wares that ranges in style from vintage to contemporary. nike run shoes usaThere's also a section devoted to new clothes by local designers and by London-based Religion (not to be confused with the brand of jeans). womens asics shoes on saleFeel good about shopping here: Rag Trade is pro-conservation, and even the price tags are recycled.nike running shoes size 18

4600 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, 33137 Maybe South Florida doesn't seem like the best place to pick up knitting as a hobby — after all, summer is upon us. But there are always babies to crochet blankets for, relatives up north who need hats and scarves, and the three cold days next winter. best shoes to run a marathon 2014Elegant Stitches carries more than 700 different yarns and offers knitting and crochet classes for $45. running shoe store queen westThe shop also has patterns, books, kits, and needles. For the truly dedicated, the store organizes a November knitting cruise on Royal Caribbean. 8841 SW 132nd St., Palmetto Bay, 33176 Gem and Bead Gallery Best Store for Crafty Chicks Light catches your eye from all directions in the Gem and Bead Gallery. Everywhere you look, there are glistening gemstones of all varieties — amethyst, rose quartz, and glass beads that look almost exactly like them.

Coral branches, turquoise chunks, and amber circles; jade beads and freshwater pearls. You can buy anything, from a $1000 sapphire to adorn that perfect solitaire, to $1 glass beads for a hippie love necklace. The Gem and Bead Gallery is a direct importer of gemstone beads, colored crystals, horn beads, Swarovski crystals, and pearls. The store attracts customers who are practiced jewelers, as well as first-time bead stringers. To that end, they offer hands-on Monday and Saturday classes that range from $30 to $35. From beading to pearl knotting, you can learn how to do it and then successfully make it here. Few things are cooler than being able to chirp, "Thanks, I made them myself," when you're inevitably complimented on your amazing new earrings. 38 NE 1st St., Miami, 33132 Best Place to Buy Running Shoes: The Runner's HighFirst Look: Inside Nike Miami Last November, Nike opened Nike Soho, a first step in the company’s bold transformation of sport retail. Creating a seamless link between the company’s digital and physical platforms, the store debuted new 1:1 services for Nike+ members, including Nike+ Trial Zones for basketball, running and soccer footwear.

On January 19, the company continues its momentum in retail innovation with Nike Miami, a two-story, multi-sport, 31,000+ square-foot retail experience in one of Miami Beach’s most popular shopping districts. These personalized services exist in an all-new building located at 1035 Lincoln Road, featuring Miami-specific design elements that facilitate natural light and create synergy with the promenade. The south and west parts of the building are wrapped in a concrete brise-soleil, cast with waffle iron and Nike Windrunner patterns, as a nod to classic Nike footwear and apparel. This intricate casting filters light to the interior of the store while casting shade outside the building. Exterior concrete and terrazzo panels, created by Nike Retail Design, reference South American and South Floridian architecture. In addition to a unique art piece by Miami-based Jessy Nite on the first floor, the store has an installation of angled tiles coated in dichroic film to help capture natural light throughout the day.